In December 2021, a hail storm in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, destroyed crops and apple orchards resulting significant losses for local farmers. Many other fruit and veg crops were destroyed as the vicious hailstorm shattered glasshouses and ripped through orchards and vineyards. Local farmers were shocked by its ferocity and devastation that lay in its wake. 

Huon Valley winemaker Kate Hill said the hailstorm had been ferocious and caused so much damage to the vines that she was only able to harvest 8% of the crop.

Nearby on Valley Fresh Farm where most of the vegetables are grown in glasshouses, Rob Mather witnessed the hailstorm smash all the glasshouses in a few minutes.

“I spoke to neighbours who have been here for 80 years and have never seen anything like it. It was a scene of devastation. The hailstorm destroyed our harvests for 2021 and 2022 in a matter of minutes.” In the wake of such destruction, joint Commonwealth-State disaster funding is helping Rob to re-establish the farm to be up and running in spring.

Tasmania’s fruit and vegetable sector, made up mostly of small family owned farms, grows five times the amount of produce that the state’s residents consume.

With between 70 - 80% of produce grown exported to its largest market, the Australian mainland, the sector has a big part to play in the state’s economy.

As weather events increase in frequency and severity, Tasmania’s farmers and primary producers need to be even better prepared against future disasters to ensure this important industry can be sustained.

More support is available for primary producers to recover and better prepare on our recovery support website page. ​